Should I trust the dealership? My transmission dilemma.

[geokilla]

There are no software reflashes, what JRL is saying is:
if the tranny software is updated to the latest update, or
B4 servo cover is replaced, or
the tranny is flushed with new fluid,

is highly recommended to reset the adaptives of the tranny, in other words the tranny starts from zero, learning the new shifting habits of the "new" driver.

If no reset is done, is going to take a long time for the tranny to relearn these new shifting patterns. The tranny is always learning and resetting adaptives.
Disconnecting the battery for more than 30 min, erases about 60-70% of the tranny adaptives, so the least you could do is disconnect the battery.

I pulled the battery out for minimal 15 minutes a few weeks ago. For sure the ECU was resetted. The transmission adaptive was probably reset as well then. Why should it be reset though? There's nothing wrong with the current shift pattern is there?

[scottymac]

There's nothing wrong with the current shift pattern is there?

When I first posted this, yes there was something wrong with the shift pattern. (see OP). I had been to the dealer when I first bought the vehicle (about 3 - 4 weeks ago) and they told me the software was up to date and that there was no point running the adaptive procedure as the only remedy was to replace my transmission to the tune of $4800 (U.S.). I have since caught them in a number of lies regarding that 1 and only visit (see OP and subsequent ones as well). After that visit I made a number of changes to the tranny and wanted to have the adaptive run. It seemed my only choice was to go back to the *@$#* dealer that had lost my trust. As the result of me adding a transmission cooler (after my OP) and taking some good advice from this forum, it seems that the transmission has slowly adapted on it's own. I have put about 500 miles on it since making the last change (transmission cooler) and it is shifting like I imagine it would have when new (no bumps, bangs, flairs, hesitations, surges, etc.).
If read carefully I'm hopeful that this post can:
1) Serve as lesson on how NOT to go about buying a used Volvo. I should have bought Carfax up front, not after the purchase (duh) and I should have taken it to an Indie before purchase. Sometimes I can be over-confident in m own abilities (the "I can fix anything" mentality).
2) Give others some insight as how to interact with their dealer / mechanic. Some good advice has been given on how to proceed if I do need to go back to the dealer.
3) Maybe encourage others to attempt to remedy a few known issues with the AW55 transmission. Before being talked into replacing a transmission just because it is shifting poorly (as my Volvo dealership tried to do), try a little investigation. If applicable, has the B4 cover been replaced? Are the motor / tranny mounts bad? When do the shift problems occur (hot, cold, first start, after going into the store, etc.)? Perhaps the most important: Is the transmission fluid clean? By clean I mean does it look as if it had just been poured in fresh. Transmission fluid is not like motor oil in that it does / should not get dark after a few thousand miles. If it is dark after a "flush" (and doesn't matter what kind of flush) and drive, then it needs to be flushed again. In all it took 38 (YES 38) quarts before mine remained transparent after driving a few hundred miles. Of course this was done over the course of a few weeks. Yes, that's a lot of fluid but at $8 a qt for Mobil 1 synthetic, it works out to $256. Combine that with the B4 cover, transmission mount, and tranny cooler and I'm in $500. That's still a hell of a lot cheaper than $4800. Of course time will only tell if this is a "real" fix, but if it lasts a year or so then I'm OK with it.

[EstVolvo]

Thank you for sharing your experience, mine is similar to yours.
What are the symptoms of a bad B4 cover?
Where did you get the transmission cooler from?
How is your engine running?

[scottymac]

Thank you for sharing your experience, mine is similar to yours.
What are the symptoms of a bad B4 cover?
Where did you get the transmission cooler from?
How is your engine running?

-Do a search here on the B4 cover. It's well documented including the TSB from Volvo.
-Got the cooler from Advance Auto Parts, but I'm sure any good parts store stocks them. Their are 2 styles and 3 or 4 ratings. I opted for a "plate and fin" style rather than the less effecient "tube and fin" style. I also opted for a medium duty rather than the light duty.
-Engine is running great. I think it's the one thing under the hood that has always been pretty well maintained.

[volvoCLE]

After reading this post, I really hope that someone from Volvo corporate is reading this...My wife and I have bought Toyotas prior to my Volvo and have never experienced anything like this! Volvo, this is a shame, and the dealership personell should be fired! Is this how you treat your customers? How could anyone not think twice before having their Volvo serviced at a Volvo dealer? What a shame!!!